Stereotype plate forming and finishing machine



Nov. 28, 1950 o. c. Rol-:SEN ETAL STEREOTYPE PLATE FORMING AND FINISHINGMACHINE 12 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. l0, 1946 Nov. 28, 1950 o. c.RoEVsEN E-rAL STEREOTYPE PLATE FORMING AND FINISHING MACHINE 12Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. l0, 1946 Nov. 28, 1950 o. c. RoEsEN x-:TAL2,531,647

STEREOTYPE PLATE FORMING AND FINISHING MACHINE Filed Sept. 10. 1946 12Sheets-Sheet 3 BY Zan/vd., VZW

ATTORNEYS Nov. 28, 1950 o. c; RoEsl-:N ETAL 2,531,647

sTEREoTYPE PLATE FORMING AND FINISHING MACHINE Filed Sept. 10, 1946 12Sheets-Sheet 4 ATTORNEYS O. C. ROESEN ETAL.

STEREO'I'YPE PLATE FORMING AND F'INISHING MACHINE' Nov. 28, 1950 12Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed Sept. l0, 1946 BYv ATTORNEYS Nov. 28, 1950 o. c.RoEsEN E TAL STEREOTYPE PLATE FORMING AND FINISHING MACHINE Filed sept.1o. 194e l2 Sheets-Sheet 7 ATTORNEYS Nov. 28, 1950 o. c; RoEsEN ErALsTEREoTYPE PLATE FORMING AND FINIsHING MACHINE Filed sept. 1o, 194e 12Sheets-Sheet 8 mn WU o. c. RQESEN mm. 2,53L64' STEREOTYPE PLATE FORMINGAND FINISHING MACHINE Filed sem. 1o, 194e 12 sheets-sheet 9 asc/m@Rok-55W,

c/MRLEsL/P/m/ms W0 Pl l. Tll/50N INVENTORS uw.. 28 1950 o. c. ROESEN mm.53h47? STEREOTYPE PLATE FORD/[ING AND FINISHING MACHINE Filed sept. 1o,194e :1.2 sheets-sheet lo INVENTOR .S

ATTORNEYS L A N E s E O R CM u STEREOTYPE PLATE FORMING AND FINSI-IINGMACHINE 12 Sheets-Sheet ll Filed Sept. l0, 1946 Wm N W5@ o. c. ROESENE11-AL STEREOTYPE PLATE FORMING AND FINISHING MACHINE 12 Sheets-Sheet l2Filed Sep?" l0, 1946 n N-N |||l||| lllll ATTORNEYS Patented Nov. 28,1950 STEREOTYPE PLATE FORMING ANU FINISHIN G MACHINE Oscar C. Roosen,Scarsdale, N. Y., Charles L.

Ricarda, South Plainfield, and Paul L. North Plainfield, N. J.,

Tollison, assign'ors to Wood Newspaper Machinery Corporation,Plainfield,

. a corporation of Virginia Application September 10, 1946, Serial No.695,964

l -17 Claims. This invention relates to a stereotype plate linishingmachine and more particularly to an improved machine of this natureincorporating means by which pockets may be formed in the inner surfacesof such plates for use in clamping the plates to the cylinder of aprinting press.

The machine of the invention is useful in finishing semi-cylindricalstereotype plates that are secured to the press cylinders by clampingelements that hold the plates under circumferential tension. For thispurpose, the plates are provided with a series of recesses or pockets intheir inner surfaces adjacent their straight edges for the reception ofclamping means' on the press cylinders. The machine of the presentinvention forms such pockets by milling them in the precast plate. Theimproved machine preferably incorporates a stereotype plate finishing`section which shaves or finishes the inner surfaces of the cast plates,and a machine including this mechanism is disclosed in United StatesPatent No. 2,364,032. The improved machine further inilldes an improvedplate cooling and drying sec- It is an object of the present inventionto provide a machine of the type described which accurately and rapidlyforms a plurality of pockets in the inner surfaces of stereotype platesand performs this operation on a succession of such platesautomatically. Other objects include the provision of an improvedmachine of this type which is capable of forming pockets in a successionof plates with a high degree of accuracy and uniformity. A particularfeature of the lnvention resides in the provision of a plurality ofmilling cutters in gang arrangement and mounting and operating meanstherefor whereby a plurality of pockets may be simultaneously formed lof the arrows;

in xed and predetermined relation to each other and to the edges of theplate. Features ofthe machine include improved means for-.coordinatingthe control of the drive that moves the milling cutters into engagementwith the' plates and the cutter rotating drive so as to prevent injuryto the machine or to the plates if the milling cutters are not rotated,improved control means for permitting the plates to move through thepocket milling section of the machine without having pockets milledtherein, and improved means for mounting and lubricating the millingcutters and for disposing of the chips from the milling operation.Another feature of the machine comprises an improved combined platecooling and drying mechanism and means for controlling `the operationthereof. Other objects, advantages and Fig. 3 is a transverse section onan enlarged scale taken along the line 3-3 of Figs. 1 and 2 and viewedin the direction of the arrows;

Fig.. 4 is a sectional view taken along the line 4--4 of Fig. 2 andviewed in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 5 is a transverse section taken along the line 5-5 of Fig. 2 andviewed in the direction oi' the arrows;

Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken along the line` 6 6 -of Fig. 5;

Fig. "I is a transverse section taken along the line 'i-l of Fig. 2 andviewed in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 8 is a partial transverse section taken on the line 8 8 of Fig. 2and showing the parts in the positions occupied when a plate is receivedinto or delivered from the pocket milling section of the machine;

Fig. 9 is a partial transverse'section similar to Fig. 8, showing theparts in the positions occupied when pockets are being milled in theplate:

Fig. 10 is a sectional elevation of a. gang of pocket millingcuttersemployed in the disclosed embodiment;

Fig. 11 is a sectional view illustrating the action of the cutters inmilling pockets in a plate;

Fig. 12 is a plan view of the two gangs of cutters and their driveshafts illustrating the relative direction of rotation of the cutters;

Fig. 13 is an enlarged sectional view taken along the line l3-I3 of Fig.10 showing the construction of a cutter skirt;

Fig. 14 is a bottom plan view of a cutter rocking cam, taken along theline M--M of Fig. 10;

Fig. 15 is a plan view of the top of the cutter rocking cam mechanismtaken along the line l-ofFig. 10;

Fig. 16 is a discharge end view of the cooling and drying section of themachine with certain of the parts removed or broken away to show theinterior construction Fig. 17 is a fragmentary elevation, partly in'section, of the cutter driving motor and the control device driventhereby;

Fig. 18 is a sectional view of the control device taken along the line|8| 8 of Fig. 17

Fig. 19 is a side elevation of the pocket milling section of the machineshowing the plate stop lockout and the cutter lubricator mechanism andcontrol;

Fig. 20 is a sectional view taken along the line 20-20 of Fig. 19,showing the ubricator operating mechanism;

Fig. 21 is a sectional view taken along the line 2|-2I of Fig. 19;

Fig. 22 is a sectional view taken along the line 22-22 of Fig. 21;

Fig. 23 is a side elevation of the complete machine showing the drivingmeans for the main central shaft thereof;

Fig. 24 is an enlarged elevation of the control cam on the main centralshaft, taken along the line 24-24 of Fig. 23;

Fig. 25 is a wiring diagram of the apparatus for controlling the supplyof water and air to the cooling and drying section of the machine; and

Fig. 26 is a wiring diagram of the control system for the machinedriving motors.

The mechanism illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 constitutes generally thepocket milling section M and the cooling and drying section C of a plateilnishing machine. The machine also includes a plate shaving section S,the discharge end of which is illustrated at the right of Figs. l and 2.The entire machine is illustrated in Fig. 23. The plate shaving sectionS is disclosed in United States Patent No. 2,364,032, and it will not bedescribed in detail herein. It should be understood that the shavingsection includes a shaving arch with a central main shaft |t thereinwhich is continuously rotated by a drive motor 228. This main shaft anda continuation thereof constitutes a means for governing the cyclicoperation of the several plate nishing and cooling sections of themachine as well as the progress of successive plates through the machinesections.

A vertically reciprocable stop or gate |02 is provided at the dischargeend of the arch |00 and is operated by cam |03 on the shaft A camfollower |04 engages the cam |03 and is connected to the stop |02. Aspring is employed to bias the stop upward and so to maintain thefollower |04 in contact with theY cam surface. The arrangement is suchthat the stop |02 is lowered to permit the discharge of a plate from theshaving section at the end of each cycle of the machine operation whichis timed by one revolution of the main shaft Il.

When the stop |02 is lowered, a stereotype plate moves by gravity alongthe inclined path defined by the rollers I8, I8 and |2| andcorresponding rollers on the rearward side of the machine. The platethen moves along the plate lifting rollers 2, 2' in the milling sectionM until it comes t0 rest with its lower curved edge engaging the platestop at the lower end of the pocket milling section, as shown at P inFig. 2. This pocket milling section includes an arch liner |30 securedto an arch |40 by bolts |22. The arch |40 in turn is attached to themain frame |5 by hinge pins I0 at the lower end of the section (Fig. l)so as to permit lifting of the arch and liner to expose the mechanism inthe pocket milling section. Bolts I1 are provided to hold the arch |40in its lowered position.

,from the shafts 4, 4.

The pocket milling section M, like the shaving section S preceding it,is provided with mechanism for lifting the individual plates from thelower positions in which they move into and from the section to fixedraised positions in contact with the arch liner |30 which may beprovided with cooling water passages |51 (Fig. 2). The lifting mechanismof the pocket milling section is operated by the lifting shafts 4, 4which the torsionally connected to the corresponding shafts 3 of theshaving section by studs 5 and 5' connected between levers 1 and 1' onthe shafts 4 and 4' and corresponding levers on the shaving sectionlifting shafts, one of which isy shown at 6 in Fig. 1. The shafts 4 and4 are rocked simultaneously with the corresponding shafts 3 of theshaving section by a link 8 connected to the studs 5 and 5 at itsopposite ends (Fig. 3). A cam follower 9 secured to the link 8 engages acam I0 on a shaft |26, whereby the link 8 is reciprocated in timedrelation to the rotation of the shaft The link 8 is provided with acentral elongated opening |23 which embraces the shaft |26. Gears I2. I3and |4 transmit driving power from the main shaft to drive the shaft |26at the same speed as the shaft The plate lifting mechanism of the pocketmilling section is of the same construction as that illustrated anddescribed in detail in Patent No. 2,364,032 above referred to, and adetailed description thereof will not be given herein. The liftingmechanism as best shown in Figs. 8 and 9 comprises corresponding liftingparts adjacent opposite sidesof the machine operated respectively by theshafts 4 and 4. The coresponding oppositely disposed parts aredesignated by like reference characters bearing distinctive exponents.The rollers 2 and 2 are connected to lifting bars |20 and |20' bybrackets having toes |06 and |06 that engage fixed stops |01 and |01when the bars |20 and |20 are in their lowest positions. Engagement ofthev toes with these stops lifts the rollers 2, 2' above the upper edgesof the lifting bars |20, |20', as shown in Fig. 8. Thus when the liftingbars are lowered, the straight edges of the stereotype plate P thereonrest on the rollers 2, 2 and are free to move into or out of the pocketmilling section, subject to the control of the stop and when the barsare lifted, the rollers drop below the upper surfaces of the bars sothat the bars directly engage the lower edges of the plate, as shown inFig. 9.

The lifting bars |20 and |20 have ledges |21, |21' which engage theoutside surfaces of the plates adjacent their edges. The motion of thelifting bars is such that the plate is pinched slightly as it is raisedso that its edges pass upward without striking the arch liner |30. Thismotion is provided by a series of levers operated A lever |00 is fixedto the shaft 4 and connected to the lifting bar |20 by a link ||2through pivots ||0 and ||5. A pinching fork lever I3 is carried by afixed pivot ||4 and carries on its lower arm a roller |24 engaging a camgroove in a cam |25, fixed to the shaft 4. The upper end of the lever||3 is pivotally connected to a stud ||0 that is fixed to the liftingbar |20. With this arrangement, movement of the shaft 4 to the positionshown in Fig. 9 lifts the bar 20, moving it inward toward the center ofthe arch as it is lifted so as to slightly pinch the plate, the pinchingbeing relieved as the plate reaches its uppermost position in the archliner |30. The link ||2' on the left side 0f the machine is providedwith a spring ||1 arranged to make the link resiliently compressible, sothat the mechanism rmly clamps the plate in the arch liner when theplate is raised.

Due to the inclined position of the plate P in the pocket millingsection M, it has a tendency to move outward by gravity from thissection in all operating positions except when it is clamped against thearch liner |30 by the lifting bars |20 and |25. Such movement of theplate out of the milling section is prevented by the stop I, andmechanism is provided to normally move this stop up and down insynchronism with the cyclic operation of the machine in performing thepocket milling operation. A lever I0. fulcrumed on a iixed stud I9pivotally engages the stop at |29 (Figs. 2 and 19) A cam follower roller|3| is carried by the opposite end of the lever I8 and engages a cam 2|fixed to the central shaft 23. A compressed spring 20 surrounds a rod|45 fixed to a sleeve |40 that is pivotally connected to the lever I8 at|41. The lower end of the spring 20 engages a xed bracket |49 and thespring normally holds the roller 3| in contact with the cam 2| and liftsthe plate stop when the roller |3| engages the depressed part of the cam2|. The shaft 23 is connected to the main shaft by interconnectedflanges 280 and 20|, and so forms a continuation of the shaft and turnsthrough one revolution for each operating cycle of the machine. The cam2| is so shaped as to lift the stop I in synchronism with the action ofthe above described plate lifting mechanism. Thus the stop I is extendedto hold the plate against movement out of the pocket milling sectionwhen the plate moves into this section and thereafter while the plate islifted to and lowered from its clamped position, and the stop isretracted to move below the plate and so release it for movement out ofthe milling section after the plate has been lowered following a pocketmilling operation. After the release of the plate by the stop I, the cam2| again extends the stop to a position to arrest the movement of thenext successive plate fed into the pocket milling section.

It is sometimes desirable to pass plates through the machine withoutmilling pockets therein, as where conventional compression lockedplates,

6 cam I 54 iixed to the outside of the machine frame around the rod |5|withdraws the rod from the sleeve collar opening when the knob |52 isturned to rotate the rod |5| in a counterclockwise direction to theposition designated On in Fig. 19. The cam |54 permits the rod |5| tomove inward under the action of the spring |53 and so to enter thelateral opening in the collar |50 when the knob |52 and rod |5| areturned clockwise to the position marked 011. After the rod ISI is somoved inward by the' spring |53, the next time that the cam 2| lifts theroller |3|l and so retracts the plate stop I, the inner tapered end ofthe rod snaps into a lateral opening in the which do not requirepockets, are to be produced.

In accordance with the present invention, this may be accomplished bylocking the plate stop in its lower position, whereby plates thereafterfeed from the shaving section into the pocket milling section, passdirectly through the milling section to the cooling section C beyond itwithout being lifted into the milling arch or milled.

The mechanism for locking out plate stop is best shown in Figs. 19,21Aand 22. A collar is ixecl to the lower end of the sleeve |40, andboth the collar |50 and the rod |45 slidably engage a bracket |49 thatis iixed to the frame of the machine. A lateral opening is formed in thecollar |50 and a control rod |5| is slidably carried by the bracket |40and has a tapered inner end that may be moved into the lateral openingin the collar |50 to retain the sleeve |48 in its lowered position inwhich the plate stop is retracted to permit plates to pass through themilling section M without being lifted or milled. The rod |5| passes outthrough the side of the machine frame and carries an operating knob |52at its outer end. A spring |53 compressed between the inner surface ofthe machine frame and a collar |52 on the rod |5| biases the rod towardits inner plate stop lockout position. A

collar |50 and locks the sleeve |48 and the plate stop in the retractedplate releasing position. So long as the plate stop is thus locked down.rotation of the cam 2| does not move the stop operating lever I8.

In accordance with the invention, a series of spaced pockets aresimultaneously milled in the inner surface of each plate adjacent eachedge thereof by two sets or gangs of spaced milling cutters, the cuttersof each set being mounted in a common supoprt and manipulated in unison.The cutter mounting element for each gang of cutters comprises anelongated cutter bar 24, 24', one of which, namely, the rearward cutterbar 24', is shown in section in Fig. 10. The cutter bars have elongatedcylindrical end members. shown at and 8|' in Fig. 10, which formjournals carried in bearings 82' and 83 that are integral with the mainframe I5 of the machine. A cylindrical recess 34 is provided beyond theend journal 8|', and the journal 85' of a transverse yoke 38 is seatedin this recess. The yoke 58 connects the two cutter bars 24 and 24 tocause them to reciprocate in unison longitudinally along their axes intheir end bearings (Fig. 7). A cam roller 31 is rotatably secured to thecenter of the yoke 38 and engages a cam groove 56 in a cam 36 fixed tothe main central shaft 23 (Figs. 2 and 7).

The cam 35 is shaped to reciprocate the two cutter bars 24 and 24' fromthe position shown in Figs. 2 and 10 toward the upper or entrance end ofthe pocket milling section M and back again during each operating cycleof the machine, this reciprocation taking place while the plate P isheld in its raised position as shown in Fig. 9.

Each cutter bar carries a gang of pocket milling cutters 25, 25. In thedisclosed embodiment, four such cutters are provided on each cutter bar.As shown in Figs. 8, 9 and 11, the cutters are shaped to cut pockets K.K of generally hook shaped section in the inner surfaces of thestereotype plates near their straight side edges. The number of cuttersemployed on each cutter bar is the same as the number of pockets cut ineach side of the plate. The cutters 25 are ilxed to the outer ends ofparallel spindles 2l' journaled in anti-friction bearings 88' in thecutter bar 24'. The spindles extend upward radially from the axis aboutwhich the cutter bar turns and along which it reciprocates in thebearings 82 and 83. An auxiliary cutter 25' is provided below eachcutter 25' to remove any burr or protuberance that may be formed by thecutter 25 along the lower edge of the pocket. A skirt or slinger |32' isfixed to each lof the spindles 21' below the cutter 25 thereon, and isprovided with radially extending fins or ridges |33' which serve to fanaway the chips formed by the cutters.

Each cutter spindle 21' has iixed thereto a bevel gear 28' within a gearcase 89' in the cutter bar 24. A central cutter drive shaft 30' isjournaled in the cutter bar coaxially with its end portions 80' and 8|'in bearings 90', 9|' and 92'. An elongated drive pinion 35' is xed tothe end of the drive shaft 30' beyond the lower end of the cutter bar asshown in Fig. 10. The lower end of the shaft 30 is slidably journaled inthe frame of the machine at 93. A motor 3| mounted from the machineframe on a bracket 32 drives the pinions of the two cutter drive shaftsthrough the gears 33 and 34 (Fig. 2).

A plurality of bevel gears 29 and 95' are xed to the drive shaft 30'within the gear case 89' of the cutter bar 24. The bevel gears 29'engage cooperating bevel gears 28 fixed to the spindles 21' of alternatecutters, and the oppositely disposed bevel gears 95' engage the bevelgears 28' on the spindles of the intervening cutters, whereby theadjacent cutters are rotated in opposite directions. This arrangementinsures that the teeth of adjacent pairs of cutters move in the samedirection toward or away from the plate being milled, so that chipscarried by the cutter teeth moving out of the plate are l thrown towardthe center of the machine and are not thrown into cutter teeth that aremoving toward the plate. The lodging of a substantial amount of chips inor between cutter teeth that are entering the plate metal may causeinaccuracies in the cutting operation. The rotational arrangement of thecutters of the two sets 25 and 25' is such that the cutters of each setthrow chips toward the center of the machine from between each adjacentpair of cutters of each set, and the oppositely disposed cutters 25 and25 rotate in opposite directions. This rotational relation and thearrangement of the bevel gears 29 and 29', 95 and 95' for producing itare clearly illustrated in Fig. 12.

In order to prevent the chips from one set of cutters 25 from beingthrown into the opposite set of cutters 25', and generally to conne thechips to a desired discharge path, guards or hoods |34 and |34 arerespectively provided on the two cutter bars 24 and 24. As shown inFigs. 8, 9 and l0, these hoods extend substantially vertically along theinner sides of the cutter bars and the cutters thereon, and curveoutwardly over the upper ends of the cutters. The hoods are fixed to thecutter bars by means of nuts |36' which passjhrough flanges |35 on thehoods and engage bolts in the upper surfaces of the cutter bar 24'. Thechips from the cutters 25, 25 are thrown inward as explained and aredeflected downward by the hoods as indicated by the arrows in Figs. 8and 9. The chips fall into a chute |31 that extends beneath the pocketmilling section, and are carried out through the end of this chute by ascrew conveyor |39 and dropped into a pan |38. The conveyor |39 iscarried by a shaft |56 journaled in the main frame and driven from themain central shaft 23 through the gears 5|, 52, 53 and 54 (Figs. 2 and4).

Fixed cam plates 94 and 94' having cam grooves 4| and 4| therein areprovided for rocking the cutter bars 24 and 24' about their axes as theyare axially reciprocated, whereby the sets of cutters 25 and 25 aremoved outwardly to cut the pockets in the plates. Brackets 39 and 39carrying downwardly extending rollers 40 and 40' are attached to thecutter bars 24 and 24' as shown in Figs. 7 and 10. The rollers 40 and40' ride in the cam grooves 4| and 4|' of the cam plates 94 and 94. Thecam grooves are shaped as shown in Figs. 14 and 15 to move the rollers40 and 40 inwardly as the cutter bars are reciprocated axially towardthe entrance Vend of the milling section M, thereby swingng the two setsof cutters and 25' outward and into pocket milling engagement with theinner surfaces of the plate P. The cam plates 94 and 94' areformedintegral with or fixed to plates 91 and 9 1' which are adjustablyclamped to the lower face of a frame member 98 in positions to fix thecam plates 94 and 94 in openings in this frame member, as shown in Figs.10, 14 and 15. Theplates 91 and 91' have lateral inner slots 99 and 99'thereinfor the reception of a central key |4| xed to the frame member98. Keys |42 and |42 similarly lxed to the frame member 93 engageoppositely disposed slots |43 and |43' in the outer edges of the plates91 and 91. and adjusting bolts 42 and 42' extend through the respectivekeys |42 and |42' and engage the plates spring returned lever 91 and 91and serve to adjust these plates and the cam plates 94 and 94' laterallyof the machine to thereby adjust the lateral stroke of the cutters, aswill be seen from Fig. 7. The plates 91 and 91 are clamped to the framemember 93 by bolts |44 and |44' which pass through laterally extendingslots in the plates as shown in Figs. 14 and l5.

The motion imparted to the pocket milling cutters by the cam grooves 4|and 4| is illustrated in Fig. 11. As there shown, the cutters are rockedoutwardly as the cutter bar moves them longitudinally of the machine sothat they penetrate the inside surface of the plate and cut the severalpockets K simultaneously as they move longitudinally of the machine,being retracted from the plate at the end of the return stroke.

As the cutters 25, 25' mill pockets in the plates, chips or lumps ofplate metal frequently stick or cling to the cutters and impair theaccuracy of the pocket milling operation. To avoid this, it is preferredin accordance' with the present invention to provide apparatus forsupplying a lubricant or cutting liquid to the cutters prior to orduring each cutting operation thereon. In the disclosed embodiment, alubricator L is cmployed to supply lubricant for this purpose.k Thelubricator L is of known construction in which a plunger type mechanismpumps lubricant from a reservoir |58 out through a tube |59 when a |60is reciprocated, the amount of lubricant delivered on each reciprocationof the lever being determined by the length of its stroke. Thelubricator L is carried by a bracket |6| secured to the outside of themachine frame as shown in Figs. 19 and 20, and a rod |62 reciprocated byan arm |63 fixed to the plate lifter operating shaft 4 extends throughan opening in the main frame to engage and reciprocate the lever |60.The lubricator L is adjustable laterally of the machine to vary thelength of the stroke of the lever |60,-and for this purpose the screws|64 that secure the lubricator to the bracket |6| pass through elongatedbracket openings |66. An adjusting screw |65 extends laterally in thebracket |6|4 and has a flange engaging the front of the lubricator forthe purpose of obtaining a, fine adjustment of the inward movement ofthe lubricator when it is desired to increase the stroke of the lever|60.

The lubricant supply tube |59 passes inside the machine frame through anopening and la 9 ,connected to a xed centrally disposed T |81 at theentrance end ot the pocket milling section VM (Fig. 19). Two iiexibleducts |88 and |88 lead from the T |81 to the respective headers |88 land |88' carried respectively on top of the hoods |88 and |84' (Figs. 8,9 and 19). Eachoi' these headers is provided with tour outlets in theiorm of variable oriilce metering units |18 and |18' from which tubesI1| and |1I' extend through the tops o! the hoods |88 and |84 at "pointsdirectly over the respective milling cutters 28 and 28. The meteringunits |18 and |18' insure that equal amounts of lubricant are deliveredto the several cutters of each gang unit.

When th'e plate stop IV is locked in its retracted position so thatsuccessive plates pass directly through the Vmilling section M withoutbeing lifted into the arch liner I 88, the cutters 28 and 28' swingoutwardly during-that part of the machine cycle when no plate is presentin this section, and hence under these conditions. no lubrication oi'the cutters is required. In accordance with the invention, means areprovided tor preventing the supply of lubricant by the lubricator L whenthe plate stop I is locked out in its retracted position. A lever |12 ispivotally secured to the top oi' the lubricator reservoir |88 and has awedge-shaped inner end |18 which moves under the lower end oi.' thelubricator operating lever |88 and so moves this lever to and locks itin its outer position, out ci' range of the stroke ot the operating rod|62, when the outer end of the lever |12 is moved to the left as shownin Fig. 21. A rod |18 is connected by ball and socket joints between theouter end of the lever |12 and a depending crank arm |15 ilxed to therod ISI. When the rod and knob |82 are in the On" position as shown inFigs. 19 and 20, the lever |88 is tree to move inward under its springbias within range o! the stroke of the operating rod |82, whereby thelever is osclllated and lubricant is supplied to the cutters. When theknob |52 and rod |8I are turned clockwise to the Oil position to lockout the plate stop I, the outer end of the lever |12 is swung to theleft as shown in Figs. 19 and 21 and the lubricator operating lever |88is moved to and locked in its inoperative position. Thereafter, as longas plates pass through the milling section M without being milled, nolubricant is supplied to the cutters.

After leaving the milling section M, the successive plates P pass intothe cooling and drying section C of the machine along the rollers |88and |88' adjacent the opposite sides of this section, and the successiveplates are held in this section by the stops .48 and 88' adiacent thelower or outlet end of the section (Figs. 1, 2, 5 and 6). The stops 48and 48' are respectively carried on upwardly extending arms |8I, |8I' ofhollow sleeves |82, |82' which are slidabiy and rotatably carried onilxed stub shafts |88, |83'. Coiled compression springs. one of which isshown at |86' of Fig. 2. are interposed between the upper ends of theshafts |88, |88 and sleeves |82, I 82 to permit resilient yieldingmovement of the stops carried by the sleeves toward the outlet end ofthe machine and thereby cushion the shock or impact caused by a platestriking the stops 48, 88'. Cam rollers |88, |84' are carried bydepending arms I 85, |88 on the sleeves |82, I 82. These rollersrespectively engage cams |81, |81' fixed to the central main shaft 28 atlongitudinally spaced points thereon,

o1' the two cutter bars 24 and 24' and oppositely disposed camextentions 88 and 88' are provided on these cams. The stops 88 and 88'are biased toward their outward plate stoppinglpositions, and therollers |88 and |88' are held in contact with their respective cams |81and |81' by a compressed spring |88 sur-` rounding rods |88, |88'pivotally connected respectively to arms |88, |88 on the stop sleeves|82, |82' (Figs. 2 and 5). The rods |88 and |88' `are slidably retainedin alignment by a sleeve |8| within the spring |88. With thisarrangement, the stops 88 and 48 are retracted to release a plate P fromthe cooling and drying section C at the end ot each cooling and dryingcycle, and are returned to stopping position immediately after the platehas moved out of the cooling section.

The cooling section contains a lower arch shaped spray casting |82having water conducting depressions |88 and |88' in its outer surface.Spray plates |88 and |88' having openings |88 therein respectively coverthe water conducting depressions |88 and |88' oil the casting .|82 Theopenings |88 serve as nozzles to spray water from the depressions |88and |88' outwardly onto the under surface of the plate P (Figs. 7 and16). Water is conducted into the depressions |88 and |88' of the casting|82 by pipes |88 and |88' connected to a pipe |81 which in turn isconnected through aplpe 288 to a solenoid operated water supply valve28] (Figs. 1, 7 and 16). The spray plates |88 and |84' have imperforateside extensions forming skirts |88 and |88 that extend below the casting|82 and terminate in the side troughs |88 and |88' (Figs. 1, 5, 'l and16). Drain pipes 288 and 288' are connected to the lower ends oi.' thesetroughs and led to a common transverse drain 28| (Figs. 1 and 16).

An under air pipe 282 extends along the top of the casting |82 in agroove therein and is provided with openings which direct jets of airupwardly and outwardly on the under surface oi the plate, as shown inFigs. 47 and 16. An extension 288 of this pipe 282 is connected throughthe pipe 284 to a solenoid operated air supply valve 288 (Fig. 1).

An arch shaped outer water manifold i288 is suitably supported onextensions 289, 288' of the main frame intermediate the ends of thecooling and drying section, and extends close to and above the path of aplate in this section. Upper spray pipes 2|8 are connected to and extendin opposite direction from the manifold 288 along the length of thecooling and drying section and are provided with downwardly directedopenings 2|| through which water may be sprayed on the outer surface ofthe plate P (Figs. l, 2 and 7). A pipe 2|2 conducts water from the pipe288 to the manifold 288 (Figs. 1 and 16). As shown in Figs. 7 and 16,the frame I5 forms troughs 2|3 and 218 below and outside of the frameextensions 288, 288' in which some of the cooling water may collect, anddrain pipes 2M, 2M drain pipes and 16.

An outer arcuate air pipe 2|! extends above the plate path .lust belowthe lower ends of the water spray pipes 2|8 at the outlet end of thecooling and drying section and is supported by suitable securement ofits opposite ends to the trame extensions 288, 288 (Figs. 1, 2 and 16).A plurality of holes 2I8 extend through this pipe 2| l in a directionradially inward and longitu- 288 and 288', as shown in Figs. 1

connect these respective troughs with the dinally rearward of a plate Pso that the air jets passing through these holes strip water from theplate and force the water back toward the interior of the cooling anddrying section as the plate moves out of this section. In order toinsure that the air jets from these holes 2|6 are directed downward onboth sides of the arcuate outer plate surface, the air inlet pipe 2|1 isconnected to the arcuate air pipe 2|5 at its uppermost central point.The pipe 2|1 is connected to the air supply pipe 204 (Fig. 1). An archshaped removable cover 2|8 is provided for the cooling and dryingsection C, and handles 2|9 thereon facilitate its removal. I

In accordance with the invention, the supply of both cooling water anddrying air to each plate in the combined cooling and drying section C isprimarily governed by the movement of a plate into this section, thesuccessive supply of first water and then air being controlled by thecyclic timing rotation of the main shaft of the machine. With thisarrangement, the supply of water and air is initiated only if a plate ispresent in the cooling and drying section.

The plate movement responsive means for providing ,this control is shownin Figs. 5 and 6 and includes a pair of rollers 41 and 41' disposed atopposite sides of the machine in the path of the opposite side edges ofthe plates and adjacent the lowermost of the plate carrying vrollers|80, |80'. The rollers 41 and 4l'.r` are respectively carried by arms 48and 48' pivotally connected to the frame at 49, 49'. Operating rods 220and 220' are respectively pivotally connected to the roller arms 48 and48 and pass through stuiiing glands 22|, 22|' in the troughs E99, |99'.The lower ends of the rods 220, 220' are respectively pivotallyconnected to crank arms 222, 222' fixed to a transverse shaft 223journaled at its end in the machine frame. A counterweight 224adjustably supported on a crank arm 225 fixed to the shaft 223 normallybiases the connected mechanism so as to move a switch operating arm225', which is fixed to the shaft 223 to a position to depress theplunger 225 of a switch 19 and so open the contacts 221 of this switch(Figs. 6 and 25). In this position, the rollers 41 and 41' are liftedslightly above the path of the lower side edges of a plate P supportedby the conveying rollers |80, I 80' of the cooling and drying section,as shown in Fig. 6. Vifhen a plate moves down into the cooling anddrying section and its leading end approaches the stops 43 and 43', itsside edges strike and depress the rollers 41 and 41 and so turn theshaft 223 clockwise as viewed in Fig. 6, permitting the plunger 22B ofthe switch 19 to move outward and close the contacts 221 of the switch.This switch closure supplies current to successively energize thesolenoids which open the water and air valves 201 and 205 throughcontrol mechanism described below.

Referring to Fig. 23, the main central shaft Il of the machine is drivenby a motor 228 carried by a bracket 229 at the upper end of the machineabove the shaving section S. The motor 228 drives the shaft Il throughthe gear train 230, the worm 23|, worm wheel 232, worm 233 and the wormwheel 234 fixed to the shaft The upper end of the shaft ll carries a cam84 which extends around substantially one-half the circumference of theshaft and cooperates with the operating lever 235 of a switch 85. Thearrangement is such that when the operating arm 235 is depressed by thecam 84, the movable contact 23S of the Switch engages the stationary comu disc 250 is rotatabIy supported from a 12 tacts 231 thereof andcompletes an energizing circuit for the solenoid winding 238 of thewater valve 205, provided the switch 19 operated by a plate in thecooling and drying section C has been closed as described above. Theenergizing circuit for the water valve solenoid 238 is readily apparentfrom the wiring diagram (Fig. 25). The cam u closes the switch ss justafter the point in the cycle of operation at which the plate stop l atthe exit end of the milling section M has been retracted to permit aplate to pass into the cooling and drying section. Thus water issupplied simultaneously to the upper and lower surfaces of the plate inthe cooling and drying section for substantially one-half of the cycle0i' machine operation, whereupon the cam 84 releases the switch arm 235and the movable contact 238 of the switch 85 connects the stationarycontacts 239. This results in a de-energization of the water valvesolenoid 238 closing the water valve 201, and the energization of thesolenoid 240 which opens the air valve 205. Thereafter for the remaininghalf of the cycle, compressed air is delivered from the air valve to theabove described outlets in the cooling and drying section with theresult that the cooling water is blown off of the inner and outersurfaces of the plate. The energizing circuit for the air valve solenoid240 is clearly shown in Fig. 25. While the air valve 205 is still open,and shortly before the end of the cooling and drying cycle, the stops 43and 43' are retracted by the cam mechanism on the shaft 23 which hasbeen described above, and the plate moves out of the cooling and dryingsection. Air jets from the arcuate outer air pipe 2|5 play on the outersurface of the plate as it moves, stripping water from the plate surfaceand forcing the water back into the interior of the cooling and dryingsection. Just before the plate leaves the cooling and drying section,the trailing ends of its side edges leave the rollers 41 and 41', andthe switch 19 is thereby opened de-energizing the solenoid 240 of theair valve 205 and thus cutting oif the supply of air. This completes thecooling and drying cycle which is again initiated during the nextrevolution of the main shaft after a short interval to permit anotherplate to move into the cooling and drying section C.

As has been explained above, power from the main central shaft driven bythe motor 228 is employed to rock the gangs of cutters 25, 25 outwardinto milling engagement with the plates P, whereas the cutters arerotated by power from the motor 3|. To avoid such damage to the machineparts and the plates as would result if the cutters were moved againstthe plate surfaces when not rotating, the machine of the inventionincorporates control means acting to deenergize the main shaft drivemotor 228 if and when rotation of the milling cutters is discontinuedfor any reason. For this purpose, means responsive to the rotation ofthe milling cutter drive motor 3| is employed to maintain the enaucun?123 bearing zsl lnaxlal alignment with-and closely adjacent the disc24|. The free disc 250 carries Y a movable contact 252 cooperating witha ilxed contact 253 carried by the housing 246. A weight 254 biases thefree disc 250 to turn in a direction to separate the contacts 252 and252 when the motor 3l is not'operating, a stop 255 being provided tolimit contact separating rotation of the disc. When the motor 3| isoperating, driving torque is transmitted through the thin layer of oilbetween the discs 248 and 250,`and the free disc 250 is turned in adirection to close the contacts 252 and 263 and hold them closed so longas the motor 3l continues to operate.

Referring to Fig. 26, the power for operating the motors 228 and 3| isobtained from any sultable source represented by the wires AC and isconnected through a main switch 256 and the, wires 251, 258 and 259 tothe fixed contacts 260, 26| and 262 of a magnetically operated contactorR. A manually operable safety switch 263 located at the machine isconnected between the contactar R and two of the leads 264 and 265connected in parallel to the two motors 228 and 3|. The remainder of thecontrol circuits will be apparent from the following description of theoperation.

When the button designated Start" is depressed, the closing solenoid 266of the contactor R. is energized through a circuit including the linewire 259, wires 261 and 268, movable contact of the Start button, wire269, movable contact of the Stop button, wire 210, safety switch 263,Wire 21|, solenoid 266 and wire 212 to line wire 256. Energization ofthe solenoid 256 closes the movable contacts of the contactor R,supplying energy from the line 251 to the motor lead 213 through thewire 214, from the line 258 to the motor lead 264 through the wire 215and from the line 259 to the lead 265 through the wire 216. Thisenergizes both of the motors 228 and 3|. Energization of the cutterdrive motor 3| causes its rotation and so closes the contacts 252 and253 of the control device D. Thereafter, when the operator releases theStart button, the energizing circuit for the contactor solenoid 266 ismaintained through the contacts 252 and 253 of the device U, the wire261, the movable contact 211 of the contactor R and the wires 218 and218. If for any reason, the cutter driving motor stops rotating, thecontact 252 of the device ll is moved away from the contact 253 thereof.the described holding circuit for the contactor solenoid 266 is brokenand the contactor R opens, de-energizing the main shaft drive motor22H8. Both of the motors 3| and 228 may be stopped by depressing theStop" button and so breaking the described contactor solenoid energizingcircuit. In an emergency, the two motors may be de-energized by openingthe manual safety switch 263.

The main central shaft made up of the interconnected aligned shafts and23 governs the cyclic operation of all of the machine sections. A cycleof operations is performed on a plate in each of the several machinesections during each revolution of the shaft. Thus while one plate isbeing shaved in the shaving section S, another plate has pockets milledtherein in a pocket milling. section M and a third plate is cooled anddried in the cooling and drying section C. The interval during whicheach plate remains in a given section is controlled byrthe stops |62, Iand' 43, 43' at the'outlet ends of the sections, and asexplained above,thse stops are '14 vretracted to release one plate during eachrevolution of the central shaft. 'I'he stop may be locked in retractedposition to permit plates to pass directly through the pocket millingsection and into the cooling and drying section C from the shavingsection S. By virtue of the described control mechanism, the rotation ofthe main central shaft governs the supply of water to cool the platesfor substantially half the cycle during which they remain in the sectionC. and to cut oil' the water supply and direct jets of air to strip thewater from the plate during the remaining half of the operating cycle.Air supply is continued during the movement of the plate out of thecooling and drying section Cso that air from the upper arched air pipe2li strips water from the upper surface of the plate as it moves out ofthe cooling and drying section.

We claim:

l. In a machine for milling pockets in stereotype plates, thecombination of a support fora semi-cylindrical p1atea cutter bar, meansfor mounting said cutter bar to rock about and slide along an axisparallel to the axis of a plate in said support, a plurality of parallelcutter spindles journaled in said cutter bar and extending radially ofsaid bar axis, a said spindles, means for simultaneously rotating saidspindles, and means for moving said cutter bar longitudinally along itsaxis and for rocking said cutter bar about said axis during itslongitudinal movement, whereby all of said cutters are moved in unisoninto contact with and along the interior surface of a plate on saidsupport.

2. In a machine for milling pockets in the interior surfaces ofsemi-cylindrical stereotype plates, the combination with a platesupporting arch of a plurality of rotary pocket milling cutters disposedat points spaced longitudinally of the inner surface of said archadjacent one edge thereof, means for simultaneously reciprocating saidcutters in unison longitudinally of said arch and moving said cutterstransversely of said arch, and means for rotating the adjacent cuttersin opposite directions.

3. In a machine for milling pockets in stereotype plates, thecombination with a support for a semi-cylindrical plate, a pair ofspaced parallel elongated cutter bars extending parallel to the axis ofa plate on said support adjacent opposite sides thereof, journalssupporting said respective cutter bars for rocking movement about andlongitudinal movement along their longitudinal axes, a plurality ofrotary cutters carried on parallel spindles journaled in and extendingradially of the axis of each of said cutter bars, means forreciprocating said cutter bars in unison. along their axes, camsadjacent said respective cutter bars for rocking said bars about theiraxes as they reciprocate, whereby the cutters of said respective barsare moved laterally into engagement with the inner surfaces of a plateon said support, and means for simultaneously rotating the spindles ofboth of said cutter bars.

4. In a machine for milling pockets in stereotype plates, in combinationwith an arch and means for lifting a semi-cylindrical plate against saidarch, a drive shaft connected to operate said plate lifting means, apair of spaced elongated parallel cutter bars extending parallel to theaxis of said arch adjacent opposite sides thereof, journals supportingsaid `respective cutter bars for rocking movement about and longitudinalmovement along their longitudinal axes, a plurality of rotary'cutter'scarried on parallel spindlsjurcutter xed to each of naled in andextending radially of the axis of each of said cutter bars, a cam drivenby said drive shaft for reciprocating said cutter bars in unison intimed relation to the operation of said plate lifting means, camsadjacent said respective cutter bars fo;` rocking said bars about theiraxes as they reciprocate, whereby the cutters of said respective barsare moved in unison into engagement with opposite inner surfaces of aplate on said arch while the cutter bars are reciprocated, and means forsimultaneously rotating all of the cutters of both of said cutter bars.

5. In a machine of the character described, in combination, an arch forsupporting a semi-cylindrical stereotype plate, a pair of spacedparallel elongated cutter bars disposed adjacent opposite sides of saidarch parallel to its inner surface and adjacent its opposite side edges,a gang oi' milling cutters supported on each of said cutter bars, eachgang comprising a plurality o1' rotary cutters carried on parallelaligned spindles extending upward from the cutter bar substantiallyradially of its longitudinal axis, means for simultaneously rotating allof said cutters, means for reciprocating said cutter bars along androcking them about their longitudinal axes whereby said gangs of cuttersare moved in unison into and longitudinally of the inner surfaces of aplate in said arch, and a hood secured to each of said cutter bars andextending upwardly therefrom between the cutters thereon and the cutters'of the opposite cutter bar.

6. In a machine of the character described, in combination, an arch forsupporting a semicylindrical stereotype` plate, a pair of spacedparallel elongated cutter bars disposed adjacent opposite sides of saidarch parallel to its inner surface and adjacent its opposite side edges,a gang of milling cutters supported on each of said cutter bars, eachgang comprising a plurality of rotary cutters carried on parallelaligned spindles extending upward from the cutter bar substantiallyradially of its longitudinal axis, means for simultaneously rotating theadjacent cutters of each of said gangs in opposite directions, means forreciprocating said cutter bars along and rocking them about theirlongitudinal axes whereby said gangs of cutters are moved into andlongitudinally of the inner surfaces of a plate in said arch, and a hoodsecured to each of said cutter bars and extending upwardly therefrombetween the cutters thereon and the cutters of the opposite cutter bar.

7. In a machine of the character described, in combination, an arch forsupporting a semicylindrical stereotype plate, a pair of spaced parallelelongated cutter bars disposed adjacent opposite sides of said archparallel to its inner surface and adjacent its opposite side edges, agang of milling cutters supported on each of said cutter bars, each gangcomprising a plurality of rotary cutters carried on parallel alignedspindles extending upward from the cutter bar substantially radially ofits longitudinal axis, means for simultaneously rotating all of saidcutters, means for reciprocating said cutter bars along and rocking themabout their axes whereby said gangs of cutters are moved into andlongitudinally of the inner surface of a plate in said arch, a hoodsecured to each of said cutter bars -and extending upwardly therefrominside the cutters thereon and over the tops of the cutters, a lubricantsupply device, means carried by each of said hoods over said cutters fordropping lubricant on said cutters. and exible ducts con- 16 e nectedbetween said hood carried means and said lubricant supply device.

8. In a machine of the character described. in combination with an archfor supporting a semicylindrical stereotype plate, means for lifting aplate into said archI drive means for intermittently operating saidplate lifting means, at least one elongated cutter bar disposed insideand adjacent one side edge of said arch. at least one rotary millingcutter supported on said cutter bar on a, spindle extending upward fromsaid cutter bar, means for rotating said cutter, means for rocking saidcutter bar to move said cutter into the inner surface of a plate in saidarch, a lubricant supply device, means for conducting lubricant fromsaid device to and dropping it on said cutter, and means operated bysaid plate lifting device for intermittently operating said lubricantsupply device.

9. In a machine of the character described, in combination with aninclined arch for supporting a semi-cylindrical stereotype plate, platesupporting means adjacent opposite sides of said arch for permitting aplate to move by gravity longitudinally beneath said arch, a plate stopadjacent the lower end of said arch and movable between an extendedposition for arresting movement of a plate beneath said arch and aretracted position for permitting a plate to move out from under saidarch, plate lifting means for lifting a plate into said arch,intermittently operated drive means for successively moving said platestop to its extended position and then operating said plate liftingmeans. and means for preventing movement of said plate stop to itsextended position by said drive means whereby a plate may move throughand out of said arch without being lifted by said plate lifting means.

10. In a. machine of the character described, in combination with anmaimed arch for supporting a semi-cylindrical stereotype plate, platesupporting means adjacent opposite sides of said arch for permitting aplate to move by gravity longitudinally beneath said arch, a plate stopadjacent the lower end of said arch and movable between an extendedposition for arresting movement of a plate beneath said arch and aretracted position for permitting a plate to move out from under saidarch, at least one rotary pocket milling cutter within said arch movablelaterally thereof into milling engagement with a plate in said arch,drive means for successively moving said plate stop to its extendedposition and then moving said cutter into contact with a stopped plate,and means for preventing movement of said plate stop to its extendedposition by said drive means whereby a plate may move through and out ofsaid arch before said cutter is moved into engagement with said plate. Y

1l. In a machine of the character described, in combination with aninclined arch for supporting a semi-cylindrical stereotype plate, platesupporting means adjacent opposite sides of said arch for permitting aplate to move by gravity longitudinally beneath said arch, a plate stopadjacent the lower end of said arch and movable between an extendedposition for arresting movement of a plate beneath said arch and aretracted position for permitting a plate to move out from under saidarchl at least one rotary pocket milling cutter within said arch movablelaterally thereof into milling engagement with a. plate

